Magnetic tape cartridge with urging member acting on reel brake radial outer periphery

Abstract

A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. A brake component including a brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear prevents rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear permits rotation of the reel. An urging component is used to urge the brake member toward the operative position. The urging component acts on an outer periphery of the brake member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A magnetic tape cartridge comprising a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation, and a brake means which is movable between an operative position where it prevents rotation of the reel and a retracted position where it permits rotation of the reel, 
       wherein  
       the brake means comprises  
       a brake member which is movable between an operative position where it engages with the reel to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where it is disengaged from the reel to permit rotation of the reel,  
       an urging means which urges the brake member toward the operative position, and  
       a brake release member which is disposed in the cartridge casing to be rotated together with the reel and moves the brake member to the retracted position in response to chucking operation of a tape drive mechanism of a tape drive system,  
       said urging means acting on a radial outer periphery of the brake member.  
     
     
       2. The magnetic tape cartridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said urging means acts on a side of the brake member opposite to another side where the brake member is engaged with the reel to prevent rotation of the reel. 
     
     
       3. The magnetic tape cartridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the brake release member is formed of fiber reinforced resin. 
     
     
       4. The magnetic tape cartridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brake release member and the brake member is formed of synthetic resin containing therein lubricant selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, potassium titanate whisker, and silicone formed of dimethyl polysiloxane. 
     
     
       5. The magnetic tape cartridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the urging means acts on the brake member in a position near where the tape drive mechanism acts on the brake release member to move the brake member to the retracted position. 
     
     
       6. The magnetic tape cartridge as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said fiber reinforced resin is one of long-fiber reinforced resin and carbon fiber reinforced resin.